Automatic train-pipe coupling.



M. A. BARBER. AUT OMATlC T RAIN PIPE COUPLING.

APPLICATION FlLED lUNEZI. 1915.

Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

' mmm 2 SHEETS-SHET w/ rmrssfs I M. A. BARBER.

I AUTOMATI TRAIN PIPE COUPLING.

` APPUCATION FILED JUNE 21. 1915. LWLWB. Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

2 SHEETS-S'HEET 2.

Q) J mo i li .I rin ll i `j MARTIN ALLEN BARBER, or MONTRAL, QUEBEC, CANADA, ASSIGNOR or cwo rrrns 'ro IRVIN GRIFFITH 'CLAYTON AND ONE-FIFTH TO ABRAHAM LINCOLN MOLER,

BOTI-I OF MONTREAL; QUEBEC, CANADA.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN-PIPE COUPIQINGQ and useful Improvements in Automatic Train-Pipe Couplings, and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same. v

- This invention relates to devices forthe automatic coupling of the sig'nal, brake and steam pipes of railway cars and an object of the invention is to provide a s'train equalizing connection between the coupler head and its sustaining bracket. i

The `above with fur her objects and advantages will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out'in the appended claims. i i

For full comprehension, however, of' my invention reference should -be had to the accompanying drawings forming a 'part of this specification in which similar reference characters indicate the same parts and wherein: 4

Figure 1 is a side elevati'on of my improved coupler; Fig. 2 is a rear view thereof; Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of two engaging couplers;.and Fig'. -l:

is a horizontal section on line 4--at Fig. L

Fig; 5 is a section on line 5--5 Fig. 1.

Referring now 'to these drawings, 2 indicates a portion of a car and 3 the draw-bar 'of the draft rigging m'ounted upon such car.

A coupler head'sustaining bracket 4 is shown 'as Suspended from the .draw-bar although this bracket 'can be otherwise-suitabl y supportedfrom thecar and consists of a downwardly extending member forked at its lower end, that is having arms 5 at such end which are spaced transversely of the car to provide an opening extending longitudinally of the car for the accommodation of the means connecting the bracket to the coupler head as wi'll be presently described.

' The coupler head shown by way of example is of the type having a frame 6, a rearwardly"exten ding shank 8 and train pipe apertures 9, 10 and 11, one being disposed centrally in line with the shank and. the others respectively above and below the central aperture( The apertures have rearwardly extending nipples to which train pipes 12, 13 and 14 are respectively connected, the frame Speificticn of Letters Patent. Application iied' June 21, 1915.

Patented Nov. 23, 1915. Serial No. 35,336.

being also formed with an opening 15 atone side and an i'nclined projecting guide 16 at the'other side adapted to enter an opening, in another coupler head, similar to opening 15 and guide the two coupler heads into engagement and bring their respective train vppe apertures into regster as shown in Fg. 3. I

' I have provided a novelconnection between the bracket and coupler head and one which compensates for the movenent of the' coupler head with respect to the bracket and equalizes the strain consequent upon such movement and a preferred Construction of .such connection will now be, described.

The lower ends of arms 5 have round openings lT therein which loosely receive the ends of a transversely extending pin 18, the

v pin being rotatable and held against sidewise displacement by a head 18 formed at one end and a cotter pin 19 passed through the opposite end. The shank 8 p'asses reatwardly through an opening 20 formed transversely of the' pin about nidway between the bracket arms and a cotter 21 holds the shank from forward withdrawal, the ends of the opening 20 being -fiared hrizontally outwardly 'at to pernit of a lateral swinging of the coupler head, which latter also swings vertically with pin 18 'as the pivot.

An equalizer member or bar 23 islocated between arms and a-dapted to swing vertic'ally and longitudinally f the car in unison with vertical swinging of the coupler head,

such bar being carried by pin 18 preferably through the medium of forwardlv extending lugs '2-1 which are disposed aboutmidway between the ends of the bar andare perforated and have the pin passed therethrough. The middle portion of bar 23 is aperturcd at 25 `opposite the opening 20 to pernit rearward thereon to hold them in position. The projecting inner end of the upper rod also has an elongated button 29 serewed thereon, spanning the space between arms 5 and adapted to bear against the rear edges of the latter, limit the forward swingng of the upper portion of the equalizer bar and upholdthe coupler head when the latter uncoupled'and maintain such head in position to engage with a nating coupler head. The nut 28 upon the upper rod is at the rear of button 29 and acts as a lock nut 'for the latter. y

Each of the rods 27 has a coiled spring 31 encircling same and -bearing between the outer side of the equalizer bar and a collar 32 formed upon the rod adjacent its forward end. The ends of the bar are forwardly oti"- set at 32 and rocking spring seats 32 'taking the form of washers are mounted upon the rods between the offset ends of the bar and adjacent ends of the springs, the surfaces of these washers which bear against the bar being beveled inwardly from opposite sides to 'orn a vertically dispos'ed ridge 32 to enable the spring seats to rock horizontally .as the head swings laterally and thus avoid distortion of the springs during such movement. v

As illustrated in Fig. 3 a coupler c0n structed as above described is adapted to' engage with a sinilar coupler upon another car to connect the train pipes, such engagement causing each coupler head with its shank to move inwardly toward its respective equalizer bar and compress the springs 3l,'the resulting tension of which firmlv holds the heads together and it will be apparent .from this figure that should one car be on a lower level than the other, this connection will not be impaired as the equalizer bar 23 will swing in unison with and maintain its angular position relatively to the coupler head and thus in avoiding excessive strain on or distortion of any one sprin preserve the proper engagenent of the coupler heads.

The pivot-al 'connection between the forward end of rods 27 and the coupler head accommodates the movement of the former as their inclination changes owing to the rearward novement of the coupler head and it is desired to pivot the rods to the latter through the medium of rearwardly extending vertical lugs' 33 formed respectively upon the top and bottom sui-faces' of the head, the collar 32 ofeach red having a pair of spaced vertical lugs 3-1: extending forwardly therefrom on opposite sides o'one of the lugs 33 to which they are pivoted by y a pin. 35 passed through the overlapping lugs. The end of each of lugs is -ounded and in contact with the outer collar between the lugs 3& which surface of the collar is also rounded from top to bottom side of the to provide a convex hearing surface for the rounded lug.

The rounded lugs constantly bear against the eonvex surfaces and in this manner the end thrust of the rods whether the latter are noving or still, is taken up directly therefrom by the rounded lugs and through them by the coupler head thus avoiding the exposure of the pivot pins to excessive strain and wear and also providing for an easy movement of such rods.

What I claim is as follows:

1. In a train pipe connecter, a bracltet, a coupler head supported by the bracltet and a connection between the bracket and head permitting the latter to Swing with respect to the former and including a plurality of springs and a device for equalizing the strain upon said springs resulting from the Swingi'ng of the coupler head.

2. In a train pipe connector, a bracket, a coupler' head securd to the bracket, an equalizer bar and springs hearing between the head and equalizer bar.

3. In a train pipe Connector, a` braeket, a coupler head supported by the bracket, an equalizer bar and a pair of op1'ositely inclined springs hearing between the coupler head and equalizer bar.

si. In a train pipe Connector` a bracket, a coupler head supported by the bracket and adapted to swing. up and down, an equalizer bar carried by the bracket and adapted to swing in unison with the coupler head, a plurality ot' springs hearing between the equalizer bar and coupling head and means for limiting the swinging movement of the bar and through it the downward 'movement of the coupler head.

5. In a train pipe coupler, a bracket having downwardly extending spaced arms, a. pin supported at its ends by said .arms and having a transverse opening therethrough, a bar located between the arms, and pivoted to the pin, a coupler head including a shank which latter is located in the transversc opening of the pin and springs hearing between the coupler head and bar.

G. In a train pipe coupler, a bracket having downwardly extending spaeed arms, a pin supported at its ends by said arms and having a transverse opening therethrough, the ends of which are fiared in the longitudinal line of the pin, a bar located between the arms and pivoted to the pin, a coupler head including a shank which latter is located in the transverse opening of the pin and springs bearing between the coupler head and bar.

7. In a train pipe coupler, a bracket having downwardly cxtending spaced arms, a pin supported at itsends by said a's and having a transverse opening therethrough, a bar located between the arms, pivoted to the pin and having openings at opposite scles ofthe pin, a coupler head including a shank which latter is located in the transverse opening of the pin, rods pivoted to the coupler head irespectively 'at opposite sides and eXtending through the openings in said bar and springs encircling the rods and bearing between the coupler head and bar.

8. In a train pipe coupler, a bracket having downwardly extending spaced arms, a

' latter e and bottom sides and eXtending rearwardly through the top and botton openings respectively of said bar, springs encircling the rods and hearing between the coupler head and bar, nuts upon the rear ends of the rods and a button upon the rear end of the upper rod, such button spanning the space between the bracket arms and adapted to bear against the rear edges of the la'tter.

9. Ina train pipe coupler, a bracket hav ing downwardly extending spaced arms, a pin supported at its ends by. said arms and having a transverse opening therethrou' h, a bar located between' the arms, pivote to the pin and having top and bottom openings therein, a coupler head at the front of the bracket and including ashank which latter extendsrarwardly through the transverse opening of the pin, rods pivoted to the coupler* head -espectively at the top and bottom sides, and extending rearwardly' through the top and bottom 'openings respectiyely of said bar, springs encircling the rods and hearing between the coupler head and bar and a-button upon the top-rod, such button spanning the space between the bracket arms and adapted to bear against the rear edges of the latter.

10. In a .train pipe coupler, a bracket, a

coupler head supported by the bracket, a

'member pivotally supported by the bracket,

rods, one of the endsof each of which is pivoted tothe coupler head and has a shoulder formed thereon, the opposite ends of such rods extending loosely through the member, and sp'ings encircling the rods and bearing between the shoulders and said member.

11. In a train pipe coupler, a bracket, a coupler head supported by the bracket,

copies of this gatent may be obtained for 'face of said Washer which bears rearwardly entending'rounded lugs upon the coupler head, a member pivotally supported by the brac'kt and having openings at op- 'posite sides of the pivot point, rods, one end of each of which passes loosely through one of the openings in said pivoted member', the opposite ends of said rods having shoulders thereon, a spring encircling each rod and hearing between the pivoted member and one face of said shoulder, spaced lugs extending from the opposite face of each of said shoulders and located upon opposite sides of one of the rounded lugs and apin pivoting the overlapping lugs to ether, those portions of the surfaces ot the s oulders disposed between the spaced lugs being convex and having the rounded lugs respectively in contact therewith.

1:2. In a train pipe' coupler, a bracket, a coupler head supported by the bracket, a

'shank extending from the coupler head, a

spring, whereby said spring' resists movement of the coupler head.

13. In a train pipecoupler, a bracket, a

coupler head supported by the bracket, a i

shank -extending from the coupler head, a-

rod pivoted .at one end to the coupler head, upheld'at its opposite end by said bracket and having a spring-seat thereon and a spring a'dapted to resist movement of the coupler head, one end of such spring bearing against the spring-seat.

14. In a train pipe Connector, a bracket, a coupler head supported by and adapted to Swing with relation to the bracket, a member carried by the bracket and adapted to Swing in unison with the' coupler head, a rod attached at one end to the coupler head and extending through, said member, a spring encircling sthe rod and bearing between the head and member and a Washer upon the rod and located between themember and adjacent end of the spring, the surgainst the member being beveled inwardly ?rom opposite sides to form a vertically disposed ridge. In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MARTIN ALI EN BARBERI Witnesses: U I a STAXLEY C. KING, FRED J. SEAN;

five cents each, by addressng the "Commissioner of Patents,

washinzton, D. (2."` 

